Privacy
Can a landlord run a credit check without my permission?
No. A landlord needs your consent to pull your credit report. You can consent, decline, or offer alternatives such as references, proof of income, or a co-signer — which is useful if you have thin or no credit history.
By the LeasePlain Editorial Team · Checked against Ontario's Residential Tenancies Act per our editorial standards·Last reviewed August 2026
Running a credit check without consent breaches credit-reporting and privacy rules. You control whether your report is pulled.
A strong reference package — past-landlord references plus proof of steady income — often stands in for a credit check.